Electric lantern.



w. P HARTFORD & c.-'M. RICKOFF.

ELECTRIC LANTERN.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-7, 1915-.

Patented Jan. 18, 1916.

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Mm. 1c 0000 dffozucu UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM PRESTON HARTFORD AND CLARENCE MONROE RICKOFF, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS; SAID RICKOFF ASSIGNOR TO SAID HARTFORD.

ELECTRIC LANTERN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 18, 1916.

Application filed August 7, 1915. Serial No. 44,301.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, VVILLIA'M PRESTONHARTFORD and CLARENCE MONROE RICKOFF, citizens of the United States,residing at 160 North Fifth avenue, Chicago, in the county of Cook andState of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inElectric Lanterns, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in portableelectric lanterns, and the primary object of the invention is to providein a device of this character, a simple and efficient circuitcontrolling means, as well as a neat and compact device for securing inthe lantern its source of electric energv.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of thischaracter which will be easy and simple to manufacture, very eflicientin operation, and one that will be very inexpensive to produce.

With these and numerous other objects in view, our invention consists ofthe certain novel details of construction, combination, and arrangementof parts which will be hereby referred to and more particularly pointedout in the specification and claims.

In the drawings :-Figure'1 is a side elevation of the lantern. Fig. 2 isa vertical section on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a verticalsection taken at right angles to the section of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is abottom view of the lantern with the bottom plate and battery .removed.Fig. 5 is the same as Fig. {only showing battery attached.

In describing our invention, we shall refer to the drawings in whichsimilar reference charcters designate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views, and irf',which the numeral 1 designates the base portionof our improved electric lamp. This base portion 1 has projectingupwardly from the top thereof an annular flange or collar 2 which isinternally threaded to receive the lower portion of a transparent globe3. This globe 3 which is formed preferably of glass has its upperportion threaded, to securely hold thereon a threaded cap or cover 4,which has a plurality of perforations 5, therein to allow air tocirculate in the globe when placed thereon.

A bail 6 is attached to the cap or cover 4 through aperturesatdiametrically opposite points thereon, and is adapted to form a handlesuch as is used on lanterns of this general type.

The base 1 of this lantern comprises a receptacle in two detachableparts, which are designated, the upper section by the numeral 7, and thelower section by the numeral 8. The section 8 is adapted to frictionallyengage the section 7, for a short distance limited by the rib 9 formedthereon, and to be held in engagement therewith.

The bottom section 8 will be readily detachable from the upper section 7at any time it may be desired to remove the same for a purpose to behereinafter more fully set forth.

Positioned in the upper section 7 of the base 1 is a substantiallyU-shaped spring clamp 10, which has a recessed portion intermediate itsends having therein a central aperture 11 and an aperture 12 disposed toone side of the same. The aperture 12 is adapted to receive a fasteningmember 13 which securely holds the recessed portion in engagement withthe lower surface of the section 7 of the base 1. This clamp 10 iscomposed of a strip of spring metal and its arms are bent S-shaped withtheir extremities outward so that upon the insertion of an articletherebetween, there will be no danger of cutting the fingers upon thesharp edges of the same. A battery B, of the flat dry cell variety, isadapted to be held transversely between the said arms of the clamp, andthe terminals 16-.and 17 of the same are disposed at one end of thesame.

Extending transversely across the upper portion of the base, anddisposed at right angles to the clamp 10, is a metallic strip 18, havinga downturned end 19, for engagement with the terminal -17 of thebattery, and a recessed portion adjacent the other end with a centralaperture 20 therein alining with the aperture 11 in the clamp 10.

The strip 18 has a V-shaped foot 21 adja the section 7 and also presentsa larger flat surface upon which the battery B rests.

A strip of insulating material 22 is interposed between the metallicstrip and the clamp and base sections.

Positioned centrally on the upper section of the base, in the flange-2is an incandescent electric lamp socket 23, having secured therein alamp 24. This socket 23 is surrounded by a centrally apertured convexedreflector plate 25, .which will accentuate the brillancy of the lightemanating from the lamp 24.

Projecting downwardly through the socket 23 is a headed screw 26, whichprojects through the top of the base, and through the alining apertures11 and 20, in the clamp and strip respectively, being secured to thestrip by a locking nut 27 on its lower end. This screw is held fromcontact with the base and clamp by insulating washers 28 thereon.

An aperturedwasher 29 is positioned in the bottom of the socket 23through which the screw projects, and the lamp 24 when positioned insaid socket, contacts with the head on said screw.

The upper section 7 of the base 1 has positioned therethrough, at apoint adjacent the terminal 16 of the battery B, an internally threadedbore 30, in which is mounted a contact screw 31, having thereon a head32, which is positioned on the outside of the casing. This screw 31 isadapted to move in or out of contact with the terminal 16, uponrotation, to control the circuit through the battery of this lamp.

The operation of this lamp is as follows: When it is desired to lightthe same, the screw 31 is rotated until the same contacts with theterminal 16 of the battery, whereby the lamp will be ignited owing tothe fact that the other terminal 17 of the battery is connected to thelamp through the strip 18, and the screw 26. This rotatable screw 31affords a simple and efficient means for lighting and extinguishing thelantern.

Owing to the base of this lantern being made in two sections, upon thedry cell battery becoming exhausted, the bottom section of the base maybe removed and the battery taken out and replaced by a fresh one. Theapplicability of this lantern to the use of dry cell batteries of theflat variety, makes this a small and compact portable self-containedlighting source, electric lantern, the utility and novelty of which areapparent.

From the foregoing description of our improved electric lantern, themanner of applying the same to use, and the operation thereof will bereadily understood, and it will be seen that we have provided a simpleand durable device that will be easy to manufacture and very eflicientin operation.

Whatis claimed as new is i 1. An electric lantern comprising a baseincluding a receptacle having a detachable bottom portion, a batterydisposed transversely in said receptacle, a substantially U-shapedspring clamp secured to the upper portion of said receptacle and adaptedto hold the battery between its arms, an incandescent lamp positionedabove said receptacle, a metallic strip connected to one terminal of thebattery extending across the upper portion of the receptacle andinsulated therefrom, a screw extending through the top of saidreceptacle connecting the lamp and metallic strip, and a movable contactpoint carried by the receptacle for engagement with the other terminalof the battery.

2. An electric lantern comprising a base, including a receptacle havinga detachable bottom portion, a battery disposed transversely in saidreceptacle, a substantially U-shaped spring clamp secured to the upperportion of said receptacle and adapted to hold the battery between itsarms, an incandescent lamp positioned above said receptacle, a metallicstrip connected to one terminal of the battery extendin across the upperportion of the receptac e and insulated therefrom, a screw extendingthrough the top of said receptacle connecting the lamp and metallicstrip, said upper portion of the receptacle having an aperture throughthe side thereof adjacent the other terminal of the battery, and acontact screw positioned through the same and movable in and out ofengagement with the said terminal.

3. An electric lantern comprising a base including a receptacle havinga-detachable bottom, a battery disposed transversely in said receptacle,a substantially U-shaped clamp having S-shaped spring arms to hold saidbattery secured to the said receptacle, a socket and incandescent lamppositioned above said receptacle, a curved apertured reflector platesurroundin said socket and resting on the upper sur ace of thereceptacle, a screw extending downwardly from the lamp socket throughthe top of the receptacle, a metallic strip positioned at ri ht angles.to the clamp connectedat one en to one terminal of the battery and atthe other to the screw, said strip being. bent to form a flat battery;receiving surface, an insulating strip between the metallic strip andthe receptacle and clamp, and a contact screw carried by the receptacleand movable in and out of engagement with the other terminal of thebattery.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures in the presence of twowitnesses.

WILLIAM PRESTON HARTFORD. CLARENCE MONROE RIGKOFF.

Witnesses ELLA BURKE, I KATHRYN DURKIN.

